Can anyone point me in the direction of a manual or walk me through tightening the chain of a TaoTao quad? It's a 125cc machine, can't remember the model right off..

The chain keeps popping off, have never tightened it since I've had it and seems kind of loose, figure that's the place to start..

 

do you have a part on the rearend or somewhere near the chain/sprocket that looks like this? it's the chain tensioner. 110s have it, hopefully your 125 has got it.

 

Yup, got em... Thanks for the reply!

I think I figured it out. At least the chain is tight now anyway, not sure if I did it right though.

Loosen the 4 bolts - two each side - that hold the axle in place. Tighten up the mamma-jamma's in your picture, equal amounts to keep the axle straight, till the chain tightens up. Tighten up the 4 bolts previously loosened.

That sound about right? I rode it around the yard and the chain stayed on so that's a good thing

 

i can't remember the "rule of thumb" for chain slack, but you don't want it too tight. it'll stress the links and it would be possible to snap them in half. anyone out there know how much slack is acceptable or preferred? i thought maybe 1/4-1/2" of play.

 

On my quad I allow 1 inch of up/down free play in the middle bewteen the drive sprocket and the axle sprocket. The reason you need slack is that the chain tightens as the rear suspension goes though its motions. You have to allow slack for that tightening process when you hit a bump or something will break.

Measure your chain slack, then get a couple (or three) people to sit on the quad. Measure the slack again and you will see what I mean.